PARACHINAR, Nov 24: Despite reopening of the Thall-Parachinar road, the people of the Kurram Agency are still facing multiple problems in their routine life.
Sources said the road had been opened for one week after 18-month closer, but prices of food items, fuel and other essential commodities were still high in the area.
The Kurram Agency had plunged into deep troubles when clashes erupted between two major tribes of the region on sectarian grounds 18 months ago. The Turi and Bangash tribes targeted each other’s positions and properties. As a result, many people were killed and injured from both sides. The violence had badly affected the poor of the area.
The warring tribes agreed to cease fire after intervention by the federal government, which compelled both the sides to sit on the negotiating table and resolve the issue through talks. They also agreed on opening the Peshawar-Hangu road.
However, even after opening of the road, local people have to buy an 80kg flour bag for Rs5,300, one litre petrol for Rs100 and one litre diesel for Rs80. Transporters have also increased fares and the authorities concerned have failed to take notice of it.
“I used to pay only Rs20 as fare from my house to my college before the closer of the road. But now I have to pay Rs60 for the same distance,” Sajid Hussain, a student of Degree College Parachinar, told Dawn on Monday.
How the poor could afford such exorbitant prices of essential items, he said.
“I do not think my parents will agree to continue my studies in the college with such little resources,” the dejected student said.
Gulzar Hussain, a labourer, said: “I am getting Rs200 as daily wages to feed my six-member family. Imagine! How I could manage daily expenditures of my family in such a little money.”
The local people held traders responsibly for what they called the artificial crisis, saying they would first sell their previous stock of flour and fuel they had smuggled from Afghanistan at high prices when the Thall-Parachinar road was closed, and then they would bring fresh stock of essential items.
